As National Wheelchair Basketball Week 2023 (#WBWeek23) gets underway, we commence our series of highlights by featuring Team Alberta and Senior Men’s National Team Athlete, Reed De’Aeth.

De’Aeth’s journey in wheelchair basketball was sparked in 2016 when Darrell Nordell introduced him to the sport at a Para Athlete search event in Calgary. His trajectory was steep from there onward, successfully making his first appearance with the U23 National Team in 2018 in Kitakyushu, Japan, and then onto a gold-winning performance with Team Alberta at the 2019 Canada Winter Games. Continually raising the bar, Reed won the Junior Athlete of the Year award in 2020 and soon, marked his presence in the senior team event in Italy.

“The gold medal game at the 2019 Canada Winter Games remains my favorite moment,”

De’Aeth’s journey crossed borders, leading him to the United States to play for the Movin’ Mavs Men’s wheelchair basketball team at the University of Arlington. In a full circle return, he joined Team Alberta in 2023 for a second Canada Winter Games with a close second-place finish.

Focusing his experience not only on personal growth but also on community building, De’Aeth ensures new players in Edmonton have a positive environment to grow in the sport. “We have lots of experienced players as well as newer players coming in,” he says. “I try to provide positive and constructive feedback where I can.”

As #WBWeek23 progresses, Reed is all set to join the Senior Men’s National Team in Bilbao, Spain where he’ll be part of a training camp and several exhibition games. He sends out an encouraging message to those interested in the sport, stating candidly, “Don’t be intimidated, it’s a welcoming community and a really enjoyable sport.”

Remember to visit Wheelchair Basketball Canada’s website for a detailed rundown of events happening this week.

Join us in following #WBWeek23 as we continue with our athlete highlights, celebrating our community.